[QUOTE=Feather;362628]Hi Jeannie. As for the nerve blocks I have had three Sympethiact Nerve Blocks in the time from the end of May to the begining of July this year. They helped with improve the tempetaure and dull or slow the pain for a while. I found that they helped because for a while there the air was burning my skin. I use crutches to walk mainly, sometimes I will try and walk with out it since I have been told that if you don't use it could lose the abilty to.
I am really not able to walk or sit for more than about an hour because of the swelling increases the pain. The problem is when I do try to walk my ankle has something pop in it and then it swells for days and bruises.
I am so glad you replied it helps to have someone who understands.
Hi Feather and Welcome, It's unfortunate you found 'us' other RSD friends, because that means you have been diagnosed too. You'll find a vast amount of knowledge, experience, and compassion here. If you could spend some time reading other posts, like the introductions, and pictures, you'll find out how to compare your experience with others, and maybe what has helped others and what has further increased pain and spread of RSD. It's the usual consenus, that if you aren't diagnosed within 6-12 months and have the blocks, there is less of a percentage to have a remission. Children have a better chance of remission than adults. The purpose of the blocks are to interrupt the pain signals to the brain and reset or stop the pain signals. If it doesn't happen with that period of time it usually doesn't stop. Were your blocks lumbar blocks? I've always understood if the RSD injury site is below the waist you have lumbar blocks, if it's an injury in the upper extremity, you have the stellate ganglion blocks (neck) Mine began in about 96 following breast surgery. The next day my arm swelled up and was painful. After removing the excess fluid 2 or 3 times, they sent me to rehab Dr to oversee my physical therapy for frozen shoulder. After about 100 therapies I got the use of my arm back, about 95% It wasn't labeled RSD, but really was. About half way thru therapy, they wanted me to see a ortho surgeion who wanted to break the shoulder area. I said no, I'll just stay with phsio, which was really torture, being strapped down to a table and manipulated. I went to massage therapy before had to get warmed up, (which I paid for) and that helped a lot. The therapist said it was very possible for it to go to the other shoulder- that's called mirror spread. We moved to Arizona and that's exactly what happened. Went into therapy again, and was much shorter length of therapy. Had about a year relief, and then felt a nerve pull in my left hand while water skiing. Hand swelled up bad and stiffened up like a board with no So flew to a sports injury ortho group in Eugene, Or where we were from, where the Olympic Trials were held for track and field.The hand Doc. diagnosed RSD in less than a minute. Comfirmed at the hospital with Nuclear Med tests.You get bone loss in the RSD site. When back to Arizona and saw a Neurologist and Orthopedic Dr. More confirmation and got partial use of my fingers back thru physical therapy. I can partially bend my fingers kinda like a claw, but at least I can cut my own food, and peel a potato. By putting my hand thru different textures, the fingers got desensitized. I would think the same thing would apply to your toes. Everyone says surgury is the worst thing you could do, making it worse. Like a lot of people here on this forum have had happen to them, my RSD spread full body. My toes started to curl up and my Dr. had me do exercises in the pool and after a few months they touched the ground again. Stretching is good exercise. My Dr. is a Neurologist, Degree in Pharmacology to manage the pain and spasms, jolts, stabbing pains, and I've had one bad seizure. He is a Psychiatrist, who has really helped me a lot with the depression and adjustment to loss of your health life to what is now. There was a study on Ketamine for RSD here in Scottsdale Mayo Clinic. A friend of mine worked with these 5 Drs. Two of them are now at the Hershey Hospital in Pittsburg, One went back to Germany. Ketamine is an anesthetic that induces a close to going under that helps some people break the pain signals to the brain. It's not a cure, Gives some people relief for different time lengths. I'm so sorry you have this, you'll find a lot of support and caring friends here. Hope this helps a little.
Loretta